Say Uncle
Part Two:
I woke up the next morning and found it was closer to noon. Going down to my sister's room I found it empty and so went down stairs. She was an office and talking on the phone. Not wanting to bother her, I went to find breakfast and found lunch instead. It was on the grand big old table in a room that was just as pretty as the foyer and office. The house seemed empty and I wandered until I found dinning room.
Sitting down at one of the dozen or so chairs I served myself steaming food. Until I breathed in the scents of hot fresh food I didn't know what hunger was. When I was on my third serving and staring out the window at the city, Vesper walked in. One look and I knew she hadn't slept well or for very long. There weren't any bags under eyes or anything, she never got those. But instead she was stiff and pale, with a grouchy air and a lot of sighing. Her hair which was usually pulled back, was free over her shoulders. She was still in the same clothes from yesterday and looked very distracted.
"Hi." I said and she didn't seem to hear me. Sitting forward I waved my hand over her eyes and she blinked, finally seeing me.
"Afternoon," She smiled at the plate, " Good huh?"
I nodded avidly and offered her some, as usual she refused, making me frown at her. " What's wrong this time?"
"I spoke to Mr. Freeman this morning and he said that we have to stay until Julian decides we can leave. We are his relations after all and he is responsible for us now. It looks like we answer to him from now on."
I shook my head, " Isn't that a good thing?"
She sighed and stared at the pad of paper in front of her. " I don't know." She heaved another sight. " From what I learned over the phone he owns a bunch of companies and even a newspaper. He has a shipping company and international connections." Her pen tapped against the well scribbled page. " A couple of years ago an article was written about him by this investigative reporter, now she's the City Editor of his paper. I was going to go to town and dig up the story. What to come?"
I stared at her. " You don't trust him."
She looked startled for a moment then shook her head. " No I don't. There is something under all this good stuff Nora. I can't let us fall into a possible trap just because it looks nice."
"He's our uncle!" I shouted and she looked at me, really looked at me. " For once we have a family, a real home and you want to take it all away. You want us to go back to Texas, back to scrapping by and all the stuff you hate." I was yelling at her and didn't care. " Well I don't want to go back, not ever. I never want to see Texas again!"
Before she could respond I threw down my fork and ran from the room. I was crying by the time I reached my room and slammed the door closed. Hours could have passed and I wouldn't have cared. It wasn't until I felt Vesper stroking my hair that I stopped my crying and sniffed. I didn't look at her as she started to talk in a soft voice.
"If that is the way you feel....then I'll do my best to keep us here." Was all she said before kissing my hair lightly and leaving me alone.
I lay there for a while longer before getting up the courage to go to her room. The shower was on and she had fresh clothes laid out. They were the usual black and I wandered over to them. Black cargo pants and a T-shirt, not far away was her black coat that looked as worn as leather can be. Touching the soft material I remembered all the times in Texas she had come home. Exhausted and staggering on her feet, she had stayed up and helped me with school while eating a microwave dinner. When everything was done and she had looked it over, I would say goodnight and go upstairs. Instead of going to bed I used to spy on her when she was alone in the kitchen. It was there she used to cry and sometimes write in her diary. Once I even saw her standing at the kitchen sink with a knife in her hands. Even though I was only a kid I knew what she had been thinking. To my relief she had thrown it down and instead started weeping again. The one time I had come down and tried to comfort her, she had pushed me away and went to her room. I didn't follow and could only go to bed and hope she would be okay.
"Hey there," Her voice startled me and I jumped back from the chair. "Feeling better?"
I nodded and couldn't look at her, " I am sorry I yelled at you." My voice was tight with the urge to cry.
She laughed softly and ruffled my hair as she walked by. " I deserved it. It's not right of me to be so...suspicious of him. But try to not to get too attached to anything until I can actually talk to him."
"Okay." I said and sat on her bed as she go dressed. " Will I have to start school again?"
"Yes. I am going to ask Julian about that when I see him." Vesper stood up and pulled on her coat, flipping out her still wet hair and spraying me slightly. " Sure you don't want to come?"
I stared at her and smiled. " I'll come."
**
The grounds were impressive at night and beautiful in the daytime. Vesper lead me around to the back of the house, she had been out looking around I guess. There was a fountain whispering water to one side of a path she lead me down. I realized we were going to the garage. Holding open the door for me she turned on a light.
"Whoa!" I gushed and looked at the collection of cars and motorcycles. " I never knew a person needed so many cars!"
She laughed softly, " They don't really, but it's a good way to spend money."
Vesper had always liked cars, especially the exotic things that cost a hundred bizllion dollars. Things like Jaguar, Bentley, lots of fancy Italian kinds. We walked slowly through the small machines with her pausing at each one. I don't know what she likes about them, but then again I still like my Barbie collection, so wasn't about to complain.
"Can I help you?" We both looked up and saw the man from last night. " Oh I didn't know it was you." He said and wiped his hands on a rag.
"That's okay." Vesper didn't seem as nervous this time. " I was just looking for a ride into town. Do you think Julian would mind if I borrowed something?"
He glanced at the cars and shrugged, " I guess not." He paused and seemed to think over something. " I had better come with you."
She arched a brow, "Why?" I nudged her, " Not that it would be bad or anything."
There was a moment of silence. Quickly I added. " We could sure use someone who knows the city."
**
It turned out that Cash knew lots about the city, like where to find parking in a cramped parking lot. He suggested we first try the library for the story then we could go the newspaper. He lead us through the ancient building quickly and easily, and showed us how to use the system.
Vesper sat down and scanned the screen before typing in our uncles name. As she worked I gazed at the books and hopped from foot to foot. " Go look around if you want Nora." She said and I ran off to the tall shelves.
Cash glanced at me and then at her. "Perhaps I should keep an eye on her."
"I doubt she'll get lost this is only one building." Vesper clicked on something and glanced at him. " You seem jumpy about being here." Looking back at the screen she continued. " Does Julian have enemies that would hurt us or something?"
He watched a minute, "Something like that."
She nodded and shrugged, "Perhaps you should go keep an eye on her."
With him gone she relaxed a bit and let herself scan the list again. Her eyes fell on an article called 'The Most Powerful Man You've Never Met by Caitlin Burn.' Opening the file she read over what the then reporter had written and frowned. It was just like every other piece information on him. It did make mention of two men, Eddie Firori and Detective Kohanek. She copied down their names and whatever information there was. Then shut off the file and went to find Cash and Nora.
"Well?" I asked we left the building.
"I have to make some stops," She said and glanced at Cash, " You don't have to stay if you don't want to."
Cash was about to answer when his attention was caught by something. Vesper and I followed his gaze and saw a dark car with three men in it. My sister tensed up and I didn't feel safe all of a sudden. There was something about the look in their eyes that upset me.
"I'll stay." He said and she didn't argue with him.
We went back to our vehicles, Vesper paused before climbing into the convertible she had borrowed. " Cash, what do you about these guys Eddie Fiori and Frank Kohanek?"
The man looked at her a full minute before asking. "Why do you want to know?"
"They were mentioned in the article about Julian. I was just wondering who they were."
"Eddie was a business rival and Frank is a detective with the S.F.P.D."
" Why it 'was' a business man?" She asked,
"Eddie died over two years ago." Cash replied shortly and got on his bike. " I think we should head home and you can ask Julian."
Part Two:
I woke up the next morning and found it was closer to noon. Going down to my sister's room I found it empty and so went down stairs. She was an office and talking on the phone. Not wanting to bother her, I went to find breakfast and found lunch instead. It was on the grand big old table in a room that was just as pretty as the foyer and office. The house seemed empty and I wandered until I found dinning room.
Sitting down at one of the dozen or so chairs I served myself steaming food. Until I breathed in the scents of hot fresh food I didn't know what hunger was. When I was on my third serving and staring out the window at the city, Vesper walked in. One look and I knew she hadn't slept well or for very long. There weren't any bags under eyes or anything, she never got those. But instead she was stiff and pale, with a grouchy air and a lot of sighing. Her hair which was usually pulled back, was free over her shoulders. She was still in the same clothes from yesterday and looked very distracted.
"Hi." I said and she didn't seem to hear me. Sitting forward I waved my hand over her eyes and she blinked, finally seeing me.
"Afternoon," She smiled at the plate, " Good huh?"
I nodded avidly and offered her some, as usual she refused, making me frown at her. " What's wrong this time?"
"I spoke to Mr. Freeman this morning and he said that we have to stay until Julian decides we can leave. We are his relations after all and he is responsible for us now. It looks like we answer to him from now on."
I shook my head, " Isn't that a good thing?"
She sighed and stared at the pad of paper in front of her. " I don't know." She heaved another sight. " From what I learned over the phone he owns a bunch of companies and even a newspaper. He has a shipping company and international connections." Her pen tapped against the well scribbled page. " A couple of years ago an article was written about him by this investigative reporter, now she's the City Editor of his paper. I was going to go to town and dig up the story. What to come?"
I stared at her. " You don't trust him."
She looked startled for a moment then shook her head. " No I don't. There is something under all this good stuff Nora. I can't let us fall into a possible trap just because it looks nice."
"He's our uncle!" I shouted and she looked at me, really looked at me. " For once we have a family, a real home and you want to take it all away. You want us to go back to Texas, back to scrapping by and all the stuff you hate." I was yelling at her and didn't care. " Well I don't want to go back, not ever. I never want to see Texas again!"
Before she could respond I threw down my fork and ran from the room. I was crying by the time I reached my room and slammed the door closed. Hours could have passed and I wouldn't have cared. It wasn't until I felt Vesper stroking my hair that I stopped my crying and sniffed. I didn't look at her as she started to talk in a soft voice.
"If that is the way you feel....then I'll do my best to keep us here." Was all she said before kissing my hair lightly and leaving me alone.
I lay there for a while longer before getting up the courage to go to her room. The shower was on and she had fresh clothes laid out. They were the usual black and I wandered over to them. Black cargo pants and a T-shirt, not far away was her black coat that looked as worn as leather can be. Touching the soft material I remembered all the times in Texas she had come home. Exhausted and staggering on her feet, she had stayed up and helped me with school while eating a microwave dinner. When everything was done and she had looked it over, I would say goodnight and go upstairs. Instead of going to bed I used to spy on her when she was alone in the kitchen. It was there she used to cry and sometimes write in her diary. Once I even saw her standing at the kitchen sink with a knife in her hands. Even though I was only a kid I knew what she had been thinking. To my relief she had thrown it down and instead started weeping again. The one time I had come down and tried to comfort her, she had pushed me away and went to her room. I didn't follow and could only go to bed and hope she would be okay.
"Hey there," Her voice startled me and I jumped back from the chair. "Feeling better?"
I nodded and couldn't look at her, " I am sorry I yelled at you." My voice was tight with the urge to cry.
She laughed softly and ruffled my hair as she walked by. " I deserved it. It's not right of me to be so...suspicious of him. But try to not to get too attached to anything until I can actually talk to him."
"Okay." I said and sat on her bed as she go dressed. " Will I have to start school again?"
"Yes. I am going to ask Julian about that when I see him." Vesper stood up and pulled on her coat, flipping out her still wet hair and spraying me slightly. " Sure you don't want to come?"
I stared at her and smiled. " I'll come."
**
The grounds were impressive at night and beautiful in the daytime. Vesper lead me around to the back of the house, she had been out looking around I guess. There was a fountain whispering water to one side of a path she lead me down. I realized we were going to the garage. Holding open the door for me she turned on a light.
"Whoa!" I gushed and looked at the collection of cars and motorcycles. " I never knew a person needed so many cars!"
She laughed softly, " They don't really, but it's a good way to spend money."
Vesper had always liked cars, especially the exotic things that cost a hundred bizllion dollars. Things like Jaguar, Bentley, lots of fancy Italian kinds. We walked slowly through the small machines with her pausing at each one. I don't know what she likes about them, but then again I still like my Barbie collection, so wasn't about to complain.
"Can I help you?" We both looked up and saw the man from last night. " Oh I didn't know it was you." He said and wiped his hands on a rag.
"That's okay." Vesper didn't seem as nervous this time. " I was just looking for a ride into town. Do you think Julian would mind if I borrowed something?"
He glanced at the cars and shrugged, " I guess not." He paused and seemed to think over something. " I had better come with you."
She arched a brow, "Why?" I nudged her, " Not that it would be bad or anything."
There was a moment of silence. Quickly I added. " We could sure use someone who knows the city."
**
It turned out that Cash knew lots about the city, like where to find parking in a cramped parking lot. He suggested we first try the library for the story then we could go the newspaper. He lead us through the ancient building quickly and easily, and showed us how to use the system.
Vesper sat down and scanned the screen before typing in our uncles name. As she worked I gazed at the books and hopped from foot to foot. " Go look around if you want Nora." She said and I ran off to the tall shelves.
Cash glanced at me and then at her. "Perhaps I should keep an eye on her."
"I doubt she'll get lost this is only one building." Vesper clicked on something and glanced at him. " You seem jumpy about being here." Looking back at the screen she continued. " Does Julian have enemies that would hurt us or something?"
He watched a minute, "Something like that."
She nodded and shrugged, "Perhaps you should go keep an eye on her."
With him gone she relaxed a bit and let herself scan the list again. Her eyes fell on an article called 'The Most Powerful Man You've Never Met by Caitlin Burn.' Opening the file she read over what the then reporter had written and frowned. It was just like every other piece information on him. It did make mention of two men, Eddie Firori and Detective Kohanek. She copied down their names and whatever information there was. Then shut off the file and went to find Cash and Nora.
"Well?" I asked we left the building.
"I have to make some stops," She said and glanced at Cash, " You don't have to stay if you don't want to."
Cash was about to answer when his attention was caught by something. Vesper and I followed his gaze and saw a dark car with three men in it. My sister tensed up and I didn't feel safe all of a sudden. There was something about the look in their eyes that upset me.
"I'll stay." He said and she didn't argue with him.
We went back to our vehicles, Vesper paused before climbing into the convertible she had borrowed. " Cash, what do you about these guys Eddie Fiori and Frank Kohanek?"
The man looked at her a full minute before asking. "Why do you want to know?"
"They were mentioned in the article about Julian. I was just wondering who they were."
"Eddie was a business rival and Frank is a detective with the S.F.P.D."
" Why it 'was' a business man?" She asked,
"Eddie died over two years ago." Cash replied shortly and got on his bike. " I think we should head home and you can ask Julian."